Paula Badosa’s injury nightmare began with promise but turned into her longest absence from tennis since 2023. The Spanish star reached the semifinals at the Australian Open in 2025-26, climbing back into the top 10 and proving her comeback was real. Then her back betrayed her again, forcing retirement after retirement until she had no choice but to step away completely.
Now, just days before representing Spain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Badosa shared photos from the practice courts in Shenzhen. For a player who called her injury struggles “a tunnel without an exit,” these images suggest the light might finally be visible.
How Serious Is Paula Badosa’s Current Back Injury?
Paula Badosa’s last appearance on the WTA Tour was at Wimbledon 2025-26, where she faced Katie Boulter in the first round. Badosa won the first set 6-3 but was forced to retire during the second set due to a recurring back injury. This marked her 37th career retirement, raising concerns about the severity of her physical issues.
Since that match, Badosa has been sidelined with a psoas injury, a muscle in the lower back and hip area that she announced shortly after Wimbledon. This injury represents a continuation of the chronic back problems that have plagued her since a stress fracture in her L4 vertebra in 2023. Despite efforts to return, including withdrawals from the U.S. Open and the North American hard-court swing, Badosa has been unable to compete at a high level. She has expressed emotional and physical exhaustion, stating that sometimes it feels like “a tunnel without an exit”.
The psoas tear occurred before Wimbledon, meaning Badosa competed while already injured. Her withdrawal from Washington, where she was the defending champion, marked the beginning of what would become a months-long absence from professional tennis.
Weeks after her last appearance at Wimbledon, the Spaniard shared pictures of her stepping on the courts. Dressed in red and black, the 27-year-old was seen hitting the ball on the courts of Shenzhen as she prepares to compete at the Billie Jean King Cup (Spain vs. Ukraine) on 17th September.
🇪🇸❤️💛🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ng91pmBDDY
— Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) September 12, 2025
As the update hinted towards a potential comeback, fans wished her luck for a speedy recovery and good health for the events ahead. The timing of these practice photos, just days before Spain’s quarter-final match against Ukraine, suggests Badosa is targeting the Billie Jean King Cup as her return venue.
Spain captain Carla Suarez has maintained her commitment to including Badosa in the squad despite the injury concerns. The team will compete from September 16-21 in Shenzhen, with their opening match scheduled for September 17th against Ukraine.
How Did Paula Badosa Handle Her US Open Withdrawal?
After withdrawing mid-match at Wimbledon, Paula Badosa wasn’t well recovered to compete at the last grand slam event of the 2025-26 season. While many thought that reality would have been hard for her to accept, Badosa surprised everyone by writing a motivated message.
“I wasn’t built by easy days. I was shaped by the moments that broke me, the choices that didn’t go as planned, and the times I fell short of who I wanted to be. My setbacks weren’t signs that I was weak; they were necessary chapters in a story that’s still being written,” she wrote, in a social media post.
“There were times I thought I’d lost everything, my direction, my confidence, my sense of worth. But looking back, I realize I was only losing what no longer served me. Every loss gave space for growth. Every closed door redirected me toward a better one.”
MORE: Paula Badosa Provides Recovery Update With a Clear Message Amid Her Tennis Absence
“I’m not proud of every moment in my past, but I am proud of the person those moments created. The human I am today is more resilient, more aware, and more grounded because of everything I’ve survived and learned. I don’t run from failure anymore. I respect it because it’s the reason I stand here stronger, wiser, and still becoming.”
According to Badosa’s official website schedule, she is also expected to compete at the Beijing Open. However, it remains to be seen if the WTA star fully recovers before the upcoming event. The Billie Jean King Cup could serve as a test run for her return to regular WTA competition.
